Cleveland Metal was Bill Peters first step in the launch of a record label, and the following year Auburn Records was formed. 1984 saw the release of the bands debut album "Go For The Throat". Shok Paris gained a huge underground following and fan base, with the GFTT release. The band played throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and western New York supporting the GFTT album, opening for the likes of Breaker, Rotterdam, and a host of other bands.
In 1986 Shok Paris returned to the studio to record their follow-up to GFTT, again with Bill Peters at the helm. After writing the material and preparing for the recording, Bill Sabo left due to personal commitments. Jan Roll replaced Bill and the band entered Beachwood Recording Studio's to record Steel and Starlight. The album was recorded, and set to be released once again on Auburn Records. At the last minute, IRS Records made an offer, and the recording's were remixed and released on IRS. Eric say's Bill Peters still has the original mix of the recording's which is much heavier than what IRS released, maybe some day they will see the light of day. After the release of Steel and Starlight, Shok Paris undertook an American tour supporting none other than Savatage on their "Hall of the Mountain King" tour.
Following the tour supporting the Steel and Starlight album, Jan was replaced with Danny Simmons on drums. The band was given little rest and returned to the studio in the summer of 1988 to record their third album Concrete Killers. The album was released in early 1989 and things started falling apart from there. The band had wanted a totally different album cover than what was released (depicting the band as cartoon characters)... Their management was not living up to their expectation's... In a last d itch effort Shok Paris undertook a tour supporting Lizzy Borden in early 1989. Once the tour was complete, the band returned home to Ohio. Being totally unhappy with their management, and lack of support from their record company, Shok Paris called it a day...
Exhibit A
Shok Paris Lyrics
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I wait for my case
Today is the day
gotta a date with the state
They're screamin' for blood
and they're sealin' my fate
Don't kiss me good-bye
cause it's never too late
The judge holds the floor
in this kangaroo court
But will he see justice is done
(Chorus)
Call to the judge and jury
In this my defense rules the day
Don't take a dark view you're confusing
the facts
I present: Exhibit A
I look to the future
to show me the past
A victim of justice
and I won't be the last
The laws all seem foolish
they're written in haste
The judgement is guilty
and I rest my case
(Chorus)
Call to the judge and jury
In this my defense rules the day
Don't take a dark view you're confusing
the facts
I present
It's four in the morning
I wait for my case
Today is the day
gotta a date with the state
They're screamin' for blood
and they're sealin' my fate
Don't kiss me good-bye
cause it's never too late
(Chorus)
Call to the judge and jury
In this my defense rules the day
Don't take a dark view you're confusing
the facts
I present: Exhibit A
Exhibit A
Exhibit A
The lyrics of "Exhibit A" by Shok Paris are a poignant commentary on the flaws of the justice system, as seen through the eyes of a person who has been wrongfully convicted. The song begins with the singer waiting for his case at four in the morning, realizing that he has a date with the state and that his fate has been sealed. The state is demanding blood, and he knows that it's never too late to say goodbye. The judge, who presides over a kangaroo court, is holding the floor. The singer fears that justice will not be done.
The chorus of the song, "Call to the judge and jury," emphasizes that the singer wants his day in court. He wants the facts to speak for themselves, and he wants the judge and jury to realize that he is not guilty. He asks them not to take a dark view of the facts because it will only confuse them. He presents Exhibit A, which shows that the laws are foolishly written and that he is a victim of an unjust system. He knows that he won't be the last because the flaws of the justice system are systemic.
In conclusion, "Exhibit A" by Shok Paris is a powerful critique of the flaws of the justice system. The lyrics highlight the problem of wrongful convictions and the prevalence of a legal system that is unjust. The singer wants to be heard and wants justice to be done. The song is a call to action for a fairer legal system and an end to the institutionalized injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
It's four in the morning
It's early in the morning and the singer is awake
I wait for my case
The singer is waiting for their court case to begin
Today is the day
The court date is today
gotta a date with the state
The artist is going to court to face the state's case against them
They're screamin' for blood
The state is seeking harsh punishment for the artist, possibly even the death penalty
and they're sealin' my fate
The singer's fate is being decided by the court, with a potentially negative outcome
Don't kiss me good-bye
The singer warns someone not to say farewell to them, as if it's their final goodbye
cause it's never too late
The artist still holds out hope that things may turn around
The judge holds the floor
The judge is in control of the court and is leading the proceedings
in this kangaroo court
The artist believes the court is unfair, rigged against them
But will he see justice is done
The singer questions whether the judge will ensure a fair outcome
Call to the judge and jury
The artist is addressing the court, asking the judge and jury for a fair outcome
In this my defense rules the day
The singer believes that with enough evidence and argumentation, they can argue their innocence and be found not guilty
Don't take a dark view you're confusing the facts
The singer reminds others to look at the facts of the case objectively and not make assumptions
I present: Exhibit A
The singer is offering a piece of evidence in their defense
I look to the future
The artist is acknowledging that they may be found guilty, but is trying to remain optimistic and continue to look ahead
to show me the past
The artist hopes to learn from past mistakes and experiences to improve their future outlook
A victim of justice
The singer sees themselves as a victim of the justice system, rather than someone who has committed a crime
and I won't be the last
The singer believes others will also fall victim to the flawed legal system
The laws all seem foolish
The artist has lost faith in the legal system and believes the laws are poorly crafted
they're written in haste
The artist believes the laws were created too quickly and without enough thought put into them
The judgement is guilty
The court has found the artist guilty of the crimes they are accused of
and I rest my case
The singer accepts the guilty verdict and feels as if their defense has been given, to no avail
Exhibit A
A reminder of the evidence presented by the artist in their defense
Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris Martinez
It's always been a great band and I totally agree , very underrated.
takusamadotcom
thanks for sharing! This album is completely awesome!!! ...and underrated :(
Donald Rice
Great bands always
Vlad Tepes
Your welcome :)